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File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [89r] (186/995)
The record is made up of 1 volume (491 folios). It was created in 28 Jun 1920-11 Feb 1921. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
©
C A U 6 b
: PEOVISIOHAL NOTA.
1. Until early August of this year,the tone of the Division was
mainly satisfactoiy,1'he j?.u.na4 coimpieteo. nore than one extended and
unescorted tour in uhe tribes, and. found nothing hut cordiality. A had
harvest had encouraged the idea that generous loans might he expected
from the Government and. a scheme for importing cheap grain from the
Euphrates was warmly received. Inter-tribal trouble was normal, The
Divisional Council, on August 4th., scouted the idea that dangerous
elements were abroad.
2. It was however known,and more than once reported verbally and in
writing to the higher Military and Civil Authorities that the Division
was exposed to intensive propaganda. This emanating both from Baghdad
and was realised to be extensive. Inbarticular the urban population of
Kir aw v.-c;s restless, and ever seditious, and did, not lack leaders,
o. Vhon trouble aiose on the -Euphrates it was hoped that this Division
inifcht rem^n tauune, For this hope there was justification from several,
considerations* For very many years past no such general trouble had
confronted the Turks*loud as the outcry against their Government was
from many quarters. The Euphrates troubles started among Shias; this
Division contains few but Sunnis,and those few of alien Turcoman race, .
The prevailing Kurd and Turcoman of this Division might easily have
refused participation in an Arab -kairt movement,at least one of whose aim
might be Arab •istiglal*. Further,both distance and sentiment far sepa
rate this Division from the agitation of Baghdad and the mujtahid oi
4- These reasons did not in practise prevent, the trouble from rea.^^u
the Kirkuk Division,subH^rging a half of it. Cur evacuation of Baqvfbah Ga
A ugust 13th must be Regarded as a crucial event. In the Dialah Division
elements other than Arab and Shiah are met,and the speedy spread of
trouble to Shahraban,Q,izi 1 Bobat,and Khaniqiin showed the strength of the
insurgent impulse and also the change in character of the trouble as itr
extended lather from the locality of its origin. What the essence and
motive of the rebelliciie spirit in the Euphrates may be, it is not for
Q •y'b
a way Political Qffic ers to say; the auestion here answerabi
About this item
- Content
The volume consists of correspondence, memoranda, drafts, and departmental notes relating to rebellion against British mandatory rule in Mesopotamia [approximately corresponding to present-day Iraq], later known as the Iraqi Revolt of 1920.
The volume covers the period from the start of unrest in May 1920 to British imposition of control in October of the same year. The majority of the volume comprises reports from political officers across Mesopotamia on the situation in their respective divisions and districts.
Other matters discussed within the volume include:
- The suspected causes of the uprising, including fears of ‘Bolshevik’ and pro-Turkish influence
- Settlement of the border between Syria and Mesopotamia
- Military strategy and operations, including the need for reinforcements
- The severing of British lines of communication, particularly rail
- The efficacy and principles of the use of armoured cars and air raids as means of control following numerous cases of misidentification and disproportionate force that resulted in the deaths and injuries of innocent people
- Political and civil policy in the region
- Identification and arrest of some of the leaders of the rebellion
- The prominence of events in Mesopotamia in the British press
- The question of disarming the tribes following the suppression of the rebellion.
Principal correspondents include officials at: the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. ; the Office of the Civil Commissioner in Mesopotamia (from November 1920, the High Commissioner); the War Office; General Headquarters of the military in Mesopotamia; and the Government of India, Foreign and Political and Army departments.
The volume contains cuttings from several publications, including: The Times , The Statesman , The Observer , The Daily Herald , The Daily Mail , The Baghdad Times , and The Near East .
The volume includes a divider which gives the subject number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence. A second divider is included, for File 4722/1918 Part 7, entitled ‘Mesopotamia: Sir A. Wilson’s invitation to Syrian Baghdadis’. This was transferred to File 5268/20 Parts 1 and 2 (see IOR/L/PS/10/913).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (491 folios)
- Arrangement
The volume is arranged in approximate chronological order, from the rear to the front.
The subject 4722 (Mesopotamia) consists of ten volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/755-764. The volumes are divided into twelve parts, with parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 12 comprising one volume each. Part 10 is missing. Part 7, entitled ‘Mesopotamia: Sir A. Wilson’s invitation to Syrian Baghdadis’, was transferred to File 5268/20 Parts 1 and 2 (see IOR/L/PS/10/913).
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 489; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Multiple intermittent additional foliation sequences are also present. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves. The sequence contains one foliation anomaly, f 89a.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [89r] (186/995), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/761, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100137804985.0x0000bb> [accessed 6 June 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/761
- Title
- File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, i-r:i-v, 1r:89v, 89ar:89av, 90r:113r, 114v, 118v:120r, 121v, 127v:169v, 173r:192v, 194r:211v, 213r:223v, 225r:227r, 229r:261v, 262v:263v, 266r:279v, 280ar, 280r:293v, 294v, 295v:317v, 318ar, 318r:333v, 334v:341v, 342v:359v, 360v:400v, 404r:424v, 425ar, 425r:489v, ii-r:ii-v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence